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Regifting的藝術
( 2012-11-23 )



      Recycle是循環再用。在這環保意識越來越高的年代,很多人都會認同recycle的做法。但有一樣東西的recycling卻未必受歡迎,那就是禮物。
      過時過節,多多少少都會收到禮物,除了朋友、家人,公事上也會收到一些像客戶送來的禮物,公司機構的派對上也可能領到一兩件。問題是很多時這些禮物自己並不喜歡,也未必合用。這些禮物不一定沒有價值,例如一盒糖果,如你根本不喜歡吃糖果,這份禮物很可能待至過期都未開。
      收到不合用的禮物你會怎樣做?有些人會把它放在櫃頂將它忘記,有些人則索性把它丟進垃圾桶,但這樣又好像很浪費,也未必下得了手,而有人就會把它recycle。
      Recycle禮物原來有個專有名詞,叫regift。別小瞧regift,這當中原來大有學問。先看Webster's New Millennium Dictionary of English對regift的定義:
      Regift: (verb) To give an unwanted gift to someone else; to give as a gift something one previously received as a gift.
(把自己不想要的禮物送給別人;或把自己收到的禮物作禮物送出。)
      學者也曾就regift的心理做研究,發現人真的很矛盾,自己regift覺得沒有大問題,但當自己是收禮者就會不高興。其實收到懷疑是“循環再用”的禮物,心裏確實會有點不是味兒。 
      Regifting不一定是壞事,也未必代表不尊重受禮者。但是有一些規矩要遵守。首先問自己的是:"Is the gift regiftable?"(這份禮物適合再送出去嗎?)規矩是︰
      Never regift handmade(手造的) or one-of-a-kind(獨一無二的) items. Signed books and monogrammed(有花押字的) items are off-limits.


      狀態良好未開過
      有些free promotional items(免費的推廣貨品)無妨regift,但一定要是未開過的,這些可以是"bottles of wine, new household items and inexpensive jewelry"(酒、新的家居用品或不貴重的飾物)。
      How is the condition? Only new, unopened gifts in good condition should be considered for regifting. Never give partially used gift cards. Don't give items that you have owned for a long time.
      只有狀態良好而且從未開過的物品才可再送給別人。此外,用過但有余款的現金禮物卡也不應再送出去,在你家中待了很久的禮物也不應用來regift。


      塵封之物勿送人
      A general rule of thumb: if you have to dust it off, it is not regiftable.
      Rule of thumb解基本原則或實用辦法。若你要把物品清潔,就不適合再送給別人。
      Do you have good intentions? Don't just give a gift to give a gift. Be sure that the recipient(收禮者) will appreciate the item. Remember, if you feel that an item is undesirable(不受歡迎的), the recipient probably will too. If you are regifting simply because you ran out of time, gift cards are simple to obtain and always well received.
      Barbara Bitela的The Art of Regifting: Your ABC's Guide: The Do's and Don'ts, Urban Legends and Folklore詳述regifting的藝術。此外,有網站regiftable.com提供禮物循環再用的資訊。

      文︰子慧